What We Do

We tell stories to make people care. We make narrative and documentary films to touch people emotionally and intellectually — communicating complex ideas and new ways of thinking.

Who We Are

Paul Zehrer’s film and television career has earned him nominations for the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, an Independent Spirit Award, and an Emmy Award. Paul made his directorial debut with the award-winning feature film “Blessing” and directed award-winning documentary films on themes of education and disabilities, winning the Prix d’Documentaire at Cannes’ Festival International du Court-Metrage for his film “Being Seen”. His producing credits include the recent documentary feature, “The Test & The Art of Thinking.” Paul has written and directed children’s television for PBS and Nickelodeon and has over twenty-five years of experience as an editor on Oscar nominated documentaries, PBS Frontline, and the feature documentary, “Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones”. Early in his career, Paul worked as a photojournalist documenting the 1980’s civil wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua, life on the Messabi Iron Range, and collaborated Human Rights Watch videos on the genocide in Darfur. Other collaborations have been with Van Jones, MoveOn.org’s Wes Boyd, Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection, and TED Talks.

Producer, editor, and camera operator, Eric has been a principal collaborator with Potential SF on dozens of films, including “Being Seen” winner of the “Audience Award for Best Documentary Short” at the 2016 IndieFest. Eric has recently shot and directed the film, “Not Worth Killing”, a story about redemption on death row. He has a passion for cinematic storytelling and creating films that connect with the viewers on a deeply emotional level.

“This team holds an extremely important key to how we’re going to evangelize positive social change in our country.”

Wes Boyd – Moveon.org

Chikara has been a principal cinematographer with Potential SF on numerous award-winning films, including the recent documentary feature, “The Test & The Art of Thinking.” He also collaborated on 14 independent films with Rob Nilsson, a Berkeley-based Sundance/Cannes award-winning filmmaker. Primarily a Cinematographer and Editor, Chikara also works as a producer and soundman. Founder of Motomura Media, Chikara has spent over 25 years as freelance director and cinematographer for various Japanese television networks, including NHK, Japan’s public television.

Faten Yaacoub works as a freelance production “fixer” and consultant. She’s been involved with PotenialSF’s project on Waldorf education in the Middle East and is currently developing another project on the relevance of standardized testing within the American educational scene. Her background in academia is key in understanding different cultures and meeting new challenges in her career. Faten’s studies of Comparative Literature in addition to her native Arabic endow a comprehensive dimension to her translation skills.

Who We Are

Paul Zehrer’s film and television career has earned him nominations for the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, an Independent Spirit Award, and an Emmy Award. Paul made his directorial debut with the award-winning feature film “Blessing” and directed award-winning documentary films on themes of education and disabilities, winning the Prix d’Documentaire at Cannes’ Festival International du Court-Metrage for his film “Being Seen”. His producing credits include the recent documentary feature, “The Test & The Art of Thinking.” Paul has written and directed children’s television for PBS and Nickelodeon and has over twenty-five years of experience as an editor on Oscar nominated documentaries, PBS Frontline, and the feature documentary, “Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones”. Early in his career, Paul worked as a photojournalist documenting the 1980’s civil wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua, life on the Messabi Iron Range, and collaborated Human Rights Watch videos on the genocide in Darfur. Other collaborations have been with Van Jones, MoveOn.org’s Wes Boyd, Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection, and TED Talks.

Producer, editor, and camera operator, Eric has been a principal collaborator with Potential SF on dozens of films, including “Being Seen” winner of the “Audience Award for Best Documentary Short” at the 2016 IndieFest. Eric has recently shot and directed the film, “Not Worth Killing”, a story about redemption on death row. He has a passion for cinematic storytelling and creating films that connect with the viewers on a deeply emotional level.

Chikara has been a principal cinematographer with Potential SF on numerous award-winning films, including the recent documentary feature, “The Test & The Art of Thinking.” He also collaborated on 14 independent films with Rob Nilsson, a Berkeley-based Sundance/Cannes award-winning filmmaker. Primarily a Cinematographer and Editor, Chikara also works as a producer and soundman. Founder of Motomura Media, Chikara has spent over 25 years as freelance director and cinematographer for various Japanese television networks, including NHK, Japan’s public television.

Faten Yaacoub works as a freelance production “fixer” and consultant. She’s been involved with PotenialSF’s project on Waldorf education in the Middle East and is currently developing another project on the relevance of standardized testing within the American educational scene. Her background in academia is key in understanding different cultures and meeting new challenges in her career. Faten’s studies of Comparative Literature in addition to her native Arabic endow a comprehensive dimension to her translation skills.

Tobias Roberson works as an assistant editor, IT specialist and web designer. He has contributed to several PotentialSF projects including “Preparing for Life” and “Redefining 21st Century Leadership” and produced his own instructional DVD. In addition to his editing/computer work he is an accomplished performer and teacher of music.

Who We Are

Paul Zehrer’s film and television career has earned him nominations for the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, an Independent Spirit Award, and an Emmy Award. Paul made his directorial debut with the award-winning feature film “Blessing” and directed award-winning documentary films on themes of education and disabilities, winning the Prix d’Documentaire at Cannes’ Festival International du Court-Metrage for his film “Being Seen”. His producing credits include the recent documentary feature, “The Test & The Art of Thinking.” Paul has written and directed children’s television for PBS and Nickelodeon and has over twenty-five years of experience as an editor on Oscar nominated documentaries, PBS Frontline, and the feature documentary, “Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones”. Early in his career, Paul worked as a photojournalist documenting the 1980’s civil wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua, life on the Messabi Iron Range, and collaborated Human Rights Watch videos on the genocide in Darfur. Other collaborations have been with Van Jones, MoveOn.org’s Wes Boyd, Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection, and TED Talks.

Chikara has been a principal cinematographer with Potential SF on numerous award-winning films, including the recent documentary feature, “The Test & The Art of Thinking.” He also collaborated on 14 independent films with Rob Nilsson, a Berkeley-based Sundance/Cannes award-winning filmmaker. Primarily a Cinematographer and Editor, Chikara also works as a producer and soundman. Founder of Motomura Media, Chikara has spent over 25 years as freelance director and cinematographer for various Japanese television networks, including NHK, Japan’s public television.

Producer, editor, and camera operator, Eric has been a principal collaborator with Potential SF on dozens of films, including “Being Seen” winner of the “Audience Award for Best Documentary Short” at the 2017 SF IndieFest. Eric has recently shot and directed the film, “Not Worth Killing”, a story about redemption on death row. He has a passion for cinematic storytelling and creating films that connect with the viewers on a deeply emotional level.

Faten Yaacoub works as a freelance production “fixer” and consultant. She’s been involved with PotenialSF’s project on Waldorf education in the Middle East and is currently developing another project on the relevance of standardized testing within the American educational scene. Her background in academia is key in understanding different cultures and meeting new challenges in her career. Faten’s studies of Comparative Literature in addition to her native Arabic endow a comprehensive dimension to her translation skills.

Tobias Roberson works as an assistant editor, IT specialist and web designer. He has contributed to several PotentialSF projects including “Preparing for Life” and “Redefining 21st Century Leadership” and produced his own instructional DVD. In addition to his editing/computer work he is an accomplished performer and teacher of music.